Local staff nominated at Scottish Health Awards!

Celebrating NHS Western Isles finalists for Scotland’s Health Awards 2024

NHS Western Isles is thrilled to announce two local finalists have been selected at this year’s Scotland’s Health Awards, the annual celebration of the hard work and dedication of people working in healthcare from around Scotland.

The Community Equipment Service (CES) team are finalists for the Unsung Hero Award. An award which is for an individual, a group or a team who in the course of doing their job, make a real difference, but whose work often goes unrecognised.

The service, operated by the Occupational Therapy team, delivers, collects and recycles invaluable equipment, such as mobility aids, bathing equipment, community beds and toilet aids, supporting people to live as independently as possible in their daily activities, whether in their home or in a community setting. It is operated by two teams, one in Stornoway covering Lewis and Harris, and the other in Balivanich, covering Uist and Barra.

Janette Murray, Service Manager Urgent & Unscheduled Care, has also been shortlisted, this time for the Nurse Award – Royal College of Nursing. This award aims to recognise the high quality and compassionate NHS nursing care that an individual nurse has provided.

Janette has been praised for managing and supporting the Urgent Care Team, whilst continuing to develop the Urgent Care Service across the Western Isles.  This aims to ensure appropriate care in the right place at the right time for our island communities.  Over the last two years, Janette worked as the Emergency Department Manager at the Western Isles Hospital, where she was also heavily involved in the set-up of the new Acute Assessment Area.

Gordon Jamieson, NHS Western Isles Chief Executive, said, “This is an outstanding achievement for NHS Western Isles staff to be announced as finalists, and I would like to congratulate the CES team and Janette for all their hard work and dedication. 

“It is fantastic that these unsung health heroes are being properly recognised and celebrated in recognition of the sterling work they have provided to our local health service, and I wish them the very best of luck at the ceremony.”

Scotland’s Health Awards 2024, now in its 23rd year, is hosted by the Scotsman, in partnership with NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government. 

The awards ceremony and gala dinner will take place on November 7 at Edinburgh’s O2 Academy, with more than 500 guests expected to attend.